John, you write (and I agree with you) that " a majority of Republicans [believe] loyalty and patriotism are less important, or not important at all, compared to partisanship. More precisely, ... [it] depends on who the enemy is. In 2001, it was '“Muslims.” “They” killed “us.”' The Iraq invasion was “our” revenge."" So to me it is stupidity that tr$mp's christianist supporters think his hatefulness is more important than Love. Followers of Jesus are not supposed to take revenge even if they can "justify" it. Even "just war" is not the answer; and when has there been a war that meets the criteria for "just war." Hearts need as much or more change than political "loyalties". Partisanship will change when hearts change.
I believe, and I may be a minority voice in my perspective, that Trump supporters are not masochists, but rather, their lives have been given new meaning through their support of Trump. The benefits they receive are not ideological wins, nor are they particularly rational. Some have suggested that Trumpism fills the void that religion used to fill. Perhaps, or maybe it's simply tribalism at its most primitive stage. The concept of individual lives becomes blurred when compared to the immediate gratification of identity with a larger group. They parrot the far right-wing talking points of "individual liberty" not because they resonate but because it allows instant admission to the group. It's extraordinary how quickly they are shedding so many vestiges of humanity. This is the Milgram Experiment writ large.
John, you write (and I agree with you) that " a majority of Republicans [believe] loyalty and patriotism are less important, or not important at all, compared to partisanship. More precisely, ... [it] depends on who the enemy is. In 2001, it was '“Muslims.” “They” killed “us.”' The Iraq invasion was “our” revenge."" So to me it is stupidity that tr$mp's christianist supporters think his hatefulness is more important than Love. Followers of Jesus are not supposed to take revenge even if they can "justify" it. Even "just war" is not the answer; and when has there been a war that meets the criteria for "just war." Hearts need as much or more change than political "loyalties". Partisanship will change when hearts change.
I believe, and I may be a minority voice in my perspective, that Trump supporters are not masochists, but rather, their lives have been given new meaning through their support of Trump. The benefits they receive are not ideological wins, nor are they particularly rational. Some have suggested that Trumpism fills the void that religion used to fill. Perhaps, or maybe it's simply tribalism at its most primitive stage. The concept of individual lives becomes blurred when compared to the immediate gratification of identity with a larger group. They parrot the far right-wing talking points of "individual liberty" not because they resonate but because it allows instant admission to the group. It's extraordinary how quickly they are shedding so many vestiges of humanity. This is the Milgram Experiment writ large.
Trump conservatism is a dangerous mental illness. Or these people are simply evil.